Ore concentrating apparatus



Aug.19,195z f T. A MLP-@Tf 2,607,487

ORE CONCENTRATNG APPARATUS TYEA 4. 10H/P0771 ATTORNEYS Allg. 19, 1952 IT. A PH|| POTT 2,607,487-

' ORF:| CONCRNTRATING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1951 2. saE'rs-sx-IEET 2 INVENTOR4 TY 4. pH/ P07' 7,'

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 2,607,487 j y O RE CON CENTRATING APPARATUS Tyra A. Philpott,` Grand Junction, Colo.

Application July 27, 1951, Serial No. r238,872

4 claims.- (c1. 209-168) 1 This invention relates to ore concentrating apparatus, and more particularlyto apparatus for separately concentrating metallic ores of intermediate vand heavy molecular weights.

It is among the objectsvof this invention to provide an improved ore concentrating device orl apparatus which will concentrate ores of metals of intermediate molecular weights, such as those of gold, silver and copper, by a foam flotation process, and will concentrate ores `o1 metals of heavy Y molecular weights, such as those of uraniumV or tungsten, by gravity and separately from the ores of metals ofin'termediate -molecular weights; which is substantially continuo-us in operation and can be provided in different sizes to handle either small or large quantities of ore;

.which will receive pulverized ore directly from an' ore mill and separately concentrate selected components, discharging the undesired portion of the ore as waste; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, andefcient and effective in'operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationo'f the' following description and the appended claims in-conjunction with` the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of ore concentrating apparatus illustrative of the invention, certain parts `being broken away and shown in cross-section .to better illustrate the construction thereof; Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the ore concentrating apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, certain partsy being broken away and shown in cross-section-to better illustrate the construction of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale on'the line 3-3 of Figure 2 ;A and Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view onjan enlarged scale on the line 4-4 of Figure 1. With continuedv reference to the drawings, the ore concentrating apparatus of the present invention comprises a supportingframe including a base structurel() of rectangular-shape, a top structure II, also of rectangular shapeand substantially parallel to the base structure, and vertically vdisposed posts, as indicated'at I2, I3, I4, I5, I6 and IA'I, extending upwardly' from ther base structure I and supporting the top structure I I on ytheir upper ends above the base structure. The frame is reinforced by horizontally disposed cross members, as indicated at I 8 in Figure 1 and I9,20 and2I in Figure 2. I

@Ahorizontally disposed drum 22' is mounted above the top structure II of the frame by mounting brackets 23 and 24 disposed one at each e'nd'of the'v drum. The brackets 23 and 24 have bearing structures 25 and 26 at their upper ends which"communicate with the interior of the drum through apertures in the end plates 21 and 28 `of the drum, and a shaft 29 extends longitudinally through the drum and is journaled at its ends in the bearing structures 25 and 26.

Each of the bearing structures includes apacking assembly, as indicated at 30 and 3l in Figure 4, to prevent liquid from leaking out of the drum around the shaft. -One end of the drum is disposed near one end of the supporting frame, and

a shaft-driving element, such as the belt pulley I 32, is mounted on thecorresponding end of the shaft 29. l f Agitator paddles 33 project radially from the shaft at 'spaced apart locations therealong and at v 'Y angularly spaced apart locations therearound to thoroughly agitate a mixture in the drum to intermix the components of the mixture.

^ VA boss or collar 3.4 projects upwardly from the side wall 35 of the drum at one endof the drum and surrounds an inlet opening in the side wall of the drum.

A hopper 36 has at its lower end a boss or collar 31 secured to the top of the boss 34 on the drum to connect the interior of -the hopper with the' interior of the drum, and an ore chute l38 leadsinto the hopper at'the upper end of the latter for deliveringa mixture of pulverized ore and Water into the hopper.

`A manuallycontrollable dispensing device 39 is supported above the top, open end of the hopper 36 bya bracket 40 mounted on the hopper, and is effective to dispense needed quantities of foamproducing chemicals into the mixture of pulverized ore and waterin the hopper.

VA bowl 4I having an open top, a closed bottom .and an upwardly flaring side wall is mounted'in the frame adjacent to andbelow the end of the drum 35 remote from the inlet boss 34 on thedrum.l An outlet fltting'42 is provided on the side wall of the drum at the bottom of the drum and at the end thereof remote from the inlet boss or fitting 34, and a` conduit 43 communicates through the fitting 42 with the interior of the drum 35 and extends to the adjacent side of the bowl 4I wardly along the side of the bowl v4I and communicates with the interior of the bowl through an opening 44 provided in the side wall of the bowl near the bottom end of the latter.

With this arrangement, a mixture of pulverized The conduit 43 extends downore and water is fed into the hopper 36, foamproducing chemicals are added to this mixture from the dispensing device 39, and the water, ore and foam-producing chemicals are thoroughly intermixed in the drum 35 and delivered to the interior of the bowl 4| through the conduit 43.

A bearing support 45 extends diametrically across the open top end of the bowl and carries a bearing block 66 in which a bearing sleeve or bushing 41' is mounted y'with its axis substantially coincidentwith the axis or centerline of the bowl 4I. A second bearing sleeve 48 is disposed directly below the bearing sleeve 41 and mounted in a bearing block 49 supported by brackets 50 and 5I, the ends of which remote from the bearing block 49 are secured to the bearing support 45 at diametrically opposite sides of the bowl 4I A tubular drive shaft 52 is journaled in the bearing sleeves or bushings 41 and 48 and is sub--A stantially vertically disposed with its axis substantially coincident with the center line of the bowl.

Agitator blades or paddles l53gprojectradially fromthe'shaft 52- at theI lowerend of the latter and at Vsubstantially 'equal angular 'intervals therearound, these" paddles being disposed near the bottom' Wall 511iA of the bowl. A wear pan 55 is disposed in the-bowl between'theblades' 53 and .the bottom wall 54. This wear pan has a central opening therein and inclinesdownwardly from itsvrim t'o the central opening, as is'clearly illus'- tratedinFigure 3. s f

A Vfriction disc 561s mounted on the tubular shaftY 52v near theA upper end of the latter' and is supported onrollers 5.1 and 53 mounted on an auxiliary frame structure `5!and a bracket 6.0 extends upwardly from the auxiliary frame structuregilr near the ,edge of the friction disc 55.

The Abracket 160 has a substantially vertically Vdisposed slot or notch 6l therein, and a bearing block'Z-:is slidably mounted in this slot andreceives a shaft 63. A 'friction wheel 64 is mounted ononeend of the shaft63 and frictionally 'engages the upper surface of the friction' disc 5S near the periphery of the friction disc. A spring 65 is disposed between the bearing block 52 and an `adjustable abutment 5E threaded into an aperture provided in the portion of the vbracket 6D at the upper' end of vthe -s'lot Elv and resiliently presses the periphery vof, the friction wheel` 64 againstthe upper surface of the. friction disc'55 to provide a driving connection between thezshaft 53 and the shaft 52. Y

`A. main drive. shaft orline shaft 61 is substantially horizontally disposed between the frame base structure I and the top structure l l, and" is journaled in bearings, as indicated at 53, 59', 10 and 'H' supported 'on' the frame'postsl2, I3, l and I6, respectively.' A main drive `belt pulley 12. is mounted on the'shaft 6T between the posts I Zand i3, and is preferably-provided with a` clutch 'I3 by means of Awhich rit can be manually'connected to and disconnected. from the-shaft :51. The belt pulley 'l2 is driven by a suitable'power plant, such as anelectric motor or gasoline engine. l

.A belt pulleye'M is'mounted on one end of the shaft 61 and connected by a belt 15 with the belt pulley 32 on thel shaft 29, a belt tigh-tener 16 being mounted on the framexr postV -l 2" and engaging the belt l5 to maintain this Ybelt in drivingassociation with the pulley 32. A second belt pulley 'I1 is mounted on the shaft -61 between the frame posts I4 and |5, anda belt pulley I8 is mounted on the end of the lshaft 63'rernote from Vlo the friction wheel 84. A belt 79 connects the belt pulley T! with the belt pulley '18, so that when the shaft 61 is driven, the shafts 29 'and 63 are simultaneously rotated driving the mixing blades or paddles 33 and the agitating blades or vanes 53.

A cylindrical receptacle 80 is vertically disposed below the bowl 4I and connected at its upper end to the bottom wall 54 of the bowl. This receptacle communicates with the' interior of the bowl through an openingin the 'bottom wall 54 of the bowl and through the opening in the wear pan 55, and a bottom end plate 8| is detachably secured tothe receptacle 83 at the bottom end thereof by suitable means, such as the bolts 82 and 83.

A tube 84 is connected at one end to the receptacle 80 intermediate the length of the receptacle, and has its Q ther end disposed adjacent` the top of the boWlM. This tubecommunicatesthroughanfopening 85 in the side wall of tbereceptacles withathe interior' of the latter and'V carries at itsfg upperend. a checkv valve 86 whichfpermitsair to Venterythe receptacle l8D througlrthe tube 85,A but precludes the exit of air from the' receptaclerthrough this tube.

A plunger rodi lill extends through the l'tubular drive shaft 52 and beyond the ends. of'the latter. A suction cup 38, formed of Aa suitable resilient material, such as vulcanized. rubberyis secured on the lower end ofthe rod 87 and has a, rim engaging the'upper end ofthe receptacle Bil` and havingl .an internal diameter which .is substantiallyY the' samer as; the 'diameter of thev interior: of the receptacle BU. Ther-im; of this cup. has an outside diametersubstantially equal to the diameterof the centralopeningin the wear pan `55, so thatV the/cup rim engages the top edgeof the receptacle ,surrounding the interior of the latter.'l i

Arhorizontally disposedY shaft 89 is journaled in bearing brackets@ .and 9|? mounted on the top. framestructure` Il, andacrank92 ismounted onone'endof this shaft., 1

`A. walking beam 93 isl pivoted intermediate its length. ontheupper `endiof aivertically disposed link, 94, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted on a bracket.95.fsupported on the frame topfstructurel l1, and vhasiufone Vend a longitudinally extending slot LSB receiving the pin ofrthe crank 92. At its other end the beam93i is pivot'- ally connected to the upper `end of the' plunger rod 8l. by a? pivot pin Y91 to: impart vertical-reciprotation ofthe shaft 89 and rcrank 92. A belt pulley S8 is mounted on the shaft r8.9. at the end thereof remote lfrom the H*crank 92, and a belt pulley' 99 is mounted on theldrive shaft (i1-adjacent the belt pulley T1 and connected to. the belt pulley 98 by a belt ['09, 'so that the Aplunger rod 8'`i's reciprocated simultaneously with the rotationof the shafts 29 and 63. when themain drive shaft B1 is driven.

With this arrangement'fwhile'the mixture'in the bowl 4l is'agitatediby the agitatorl paddles 53, the-plunger rod 8T is' moved up and down alw ternately compressing 'the plunger against the upper" end of the receptacle 189 and raising the plunger a slight distance above the upper surface of the Wear pan 55,as indicated in broken lines' in Figure 3. When the plunger rod is raised, airl is drawn into the receptacle 83 through the tube 8l! during the first portion Yof the upward movement of the plunger'r'od, and,A as thesuctioncup isvraised above the wearpan, the

particles of heavy ore on the 'wear'pan immediatelyA around the centralv 4opening therein are permitted to fall past the plunger into the receptacle 80. When the plunger rod is then forced downwardly, vthe' opening between the plunger rim and the upper end of the receptacle is rst closed, and then'the air in the 'receptacle 80 is compressed and squeezed Yout of the receptacle around the rim of the plunger cup and into the bottoniv ofthe bowl 4|, where it bubbles up* through the mixture in the bowl, creating foam-which noats non-wettable metallic particles, such as'particles of gold, silver or copper, tothe `surface ofA the mixture in the bowl.

`A'skimmer-mechanism is mounted near the top of the bowl and includes two horizontally disposed shafts |0| and |02 disposed in spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship to each other and respectively carrying belt rollers |03 and |704. The shaft |02 is disposed within the bowl near the upper open end of the latter and is supported by suitable brackets |05 depending from the bearing support I9. The other shaft |0| is disposed outside of the bowl and slightly above the Vshaft |02. A continuous belt |06 extends around the rollers |03 and |04 and carries outwardly projecting .vanes or paddles |01 -which extend'Y transversely of the belt at spaced vapart locations therealong. Y

A belt pulley |08 is mounted on one end of the shaft |0| and connected by a beltv |09v to a belt pulley H0 mounted on the vmain drive shaft 61 for driving the skimmer belt |06 in a direction such thatlthe vanes on the bottom portion of this belt move outwardly of the bowl 4|.

A sheet metal hood extends over the top and the inner end of the skimmer belt |06 and carries a swingable plate ||2 at the outer end of the belt which engages the vanes |01 to clean material skimmed from the mixture in the bowl 4| from the vanes and to cause this material to fall'fromthe outer end 4of the skimmer. A bagsupporting hoop ||3 is carried by the frame below the outer end of the skimmenl'and a filter Ibag ||4 is securedat its open, upper end to the hoop'l I3 by an adjustable clamp band I I5 whichjsurrounds the hoopand the bag near the upper end of the latter. This bag receives the material skimmed from the bowl 4| by the skimmer and retains the metal or ore particles therein, permitting the associated liquid to drain out into a discharge chute ||5 disposed below the bottom end of the lter bag.

An outlet opening ||1 is provided in the side wall of the bowl 4| near the bottom of the bowl and diametrically opposite the inlet opening 44. A discharge conduit ||8 extends upwardly along the side of the bowl from the opening ||1 to a location near the top of the bowl, and communicates with the interior of the bowl through the opening H1. A discharge chute ||9 extends outwardly from the upper end of the discharge conduit ||8, and adjustable gates and |2I are provided in the discharge conduit, one in covering or partially covering relationship to the outlet opening |1, and the other in covering or partially covering relationship to the end of the chute H9 adjacent the discharge conduit I8.

By properly adjusting the gates |20 and |2 the rate at which the wettable portion of the ore, lighter than the portion which falls into the receptacle 80, is discharged from the bowl can be regulated.

The apparatus thus provides a continuous process receiving a mixture of pulverized ore and 6 water from an oremill, Vadding foam-producing chemicals to the mixture "of pulverizedore and water, thoroughly intermixing the mixture, floating the non-wettable ore or metal particles out ofl the mixture, concentrating the heaviest particles in a special receptacle and discharging the scope of the invention being indicated bythe appended claims rather than by the foregoing de'- scription, and all-changes which comelwithi'n-tlie meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are,`therefore, intended to be embraced therein.`

What is claimed is: A I 1. Ore concentrating apparatus comprising a hopper Yfor receiving pulverized ore and water, dispensing means adjacent said hopper ,for 'adding foam-producing chemicals'to the mixturefof pulverized ore and water passing through the hopper, a substantially horizontally disposed drum having one end in communication with the outlet of said hopper and receivingthe mixture of pulverized ore, water and chemicals fromf'the hopper, power-operated means extending through said drum Yfor thoroughlyfintermixing the ingredients of said mixtur'el'therein, a'bowl disposed adjacent the otherA end of said drum and receiving V,the mixture from the latter, areceptacle disposed` below saidv bowl and communicating with the interior of said bowl through an opening in the bottom of said bowl, means including a check valve connected to said receptacle and effective to admit air into the'receptacle while 'precludin'g exit' of air therefrom except through the opening lin the bottom of said bowl said receptacle having a manually controllable discharge opening at its bottom end, an agitator rotatably mounted in said bowl and,includin'gnagitating vanes disposed adjacent the bottom of the bowl.r av plunger including a cupv of resilient material disposed in said bowl with the rim of said cup cooperating with the top end of said receptacle to pump air admitted to said receptacle from the latter into said bowl at the bottom of the bowl and control the passage of the heaviest particles of the ore from said bowl into said receptacle, said plunger and lsaid receptacle being effective to cause the mixture in said bowl to foam, skimming mechanism disposed adjacent the top of said bowl for removing foam-floated particles of ore from the bowl, a filter receiving the ore and foam from said skimming mechanism and effective to separate the foam-oated particles of ore from'the associated liquid, manually controlled discharge means in the side of said bowl for discharging liquid and wettable ore particles from the bowl, means connected to said plunger for imparting vertical reciprocatory movement to the latter, and power means drivingly connected to said drum, said agitator and the plunger-reciprocating means for simultaneously rotating said drum and said agitator and reciprocating said plunger.

2. Ore concentrating apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a hopper mounted on said frame, a mixing drum mounted on said frame and connected at one end to the bottom of said hop- 7 Y perfor thepassage of material, from said hopper into said Vmixing drum, a bowl mounted on said frame p at the other end of said mixing drum and `connected to the latter to receive material from said drum, a receptacle depending `from the Y' bottom of said bowl in communication-with the interior of the latter, means connected to said receptacleradmitting air into the latter whiley precluding the passage of air from the receptacle except through the opening in the bottom of said bowl, an agitator rotatably mounted in said bowl near the bottom of the latter, a wear pan disposed in said bowl'between said agitator and said receptacle and having anv opening therein at the upper end of said receptacle, a plunger vertically mounted insaid bowl and including a suction cup of` resilient material having a riml cooperating with the upper end of said receptacle for pumping air f-romfsaidreceptacle into said bowl andl controlling the passage of heavy material from said bowl into said receptacle, mechanism mounted on said frame and connected to saidrplunger for imparting reciprocatory movement to the latter, means carried by said bowl providing a control-discharge of material therefrom, a skimming devicedisposedat the top of said bowl-for re-` movingfoam-floated material from the latter, a filterv supported on said frame for receiving material V from said skimming device, and povverfv actuated means mounted on said frame and f driven agitator in said bowl, air control means connected to said receptacle and admitting air to the latter while precludingpassage of air there-i fromV except through the opening in the bottom of said bowl,` a plunger 4vertically disposed in Asa'idlbowl"and including a suction cup of resilient material having a rim cooperating with theupper end of said receptacle to pump air from said receptacle into Asaid bowl and control the passage of heavy material from said bowl into said receptacle, power-actuated means mounted on said frame and connected to said plunger for impart ing reciprocatory movement to the latter, and a skimming device extending into said bowl at the upper end of the latter for removing foam and foam-floated material from the bowl. 4. Ore concentrating apparatus comprising a bowl having an open top and a bottom wall provided with on opening, a receptacle Adisposed below said bowl and secured at its upper end to said bottom wall surrounding the opening in the latter, means adjacent said bowl supplying a conditioned mixture of pulverized ore, Water and foam-producing chemicals to saidbowl, a power-v driven agitator in said bowl, air control` means connected to said receptacle and admitting air to the latter while precluding passage of air therefrom except through the opening in the bottom of saiclrbowLa plunger vertically disposed in said bow-land including a suction cup of resilient material having a rim cooperating with the upper end of said receptacleto pump air Vfrom said receptacleinto said bowl and control the passage of heavy material from said bowl` into lsaid rceptacle, power-actuated means connected to said plunger forimparting reciprocatory movement to the latter, and a skimming device extending into said bowl atV the upper end of the latter for removing foam and foam-floated material from the bowl.

; TYRA A vE,"I-1'ILPO'VI"I.H

Y REFERENCES" CITED The following references are of'record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,069,169 Parkerl Aug.v 5, 1913 1,312,754 Rowland Aug. 12, 1919 1,425,185 Ellis Aug. 8, 1922 1,908,033 Liva YMay 9, 1933 2,411,288 Morse Nov. 19, 1946 2,576,947 Larson Dec. 4, 1951 

